§ 

O 


BV/ 

4258 
C48 


Dr,     C  H  A  U  N  C  Y's 

S     E     R     M     ON, 

DELIVERED  at  the  FIRST  CHURCH 


I   N 


BOSTON, 

MARCH    i3th,  1785, 


S     E     R     M     O     N, 

DELIVERED  at  the  FIRST  CHURCH 

I    N 

B        O        S        O        N, 

MARCH  i3/£,  1785   : 


OCCASIONED   BY    THE  RETURN    OF    THE  SOCIETY 

TQ     THEIR 

HOUSE  of  WORSHIP, 

AFTER  LONG   ABSENCE, 

TO  MAKE  WAY  FOR  THE  REPAIRS  THAT  WERE 
NECESSARY. 


Y    CHALKS    C  H  A  U  N  C  Y,    D.  D. 

And  FELLOW  of  the  AMERICAN  ACADEMY  of 

ARTS  and  SCIENCES,  eftablifhed  in  the  COM^ 

MON WEALTH  of  MASSACHUSETTS, 


BOSTON, 

Printed  by  GREENLEAF  and  FREEMAN,  North  fide  tfce 
MARKET,    M.DCC,LXXXV. 


5 


[      5      ]• 


SERMON. 


I.    KINGS,    viii,    27. 

But  'will  God  in  very  deed  dwell  on  earth  ?  Behold 
the  heaven,  and  heaven  of  heavens,  cannot  contain 
thee>  how  much  lefs  this  houfe  that  I  have  built  ? 

THE  Jewifli  nation  were  now  alTem bled  at 
Jerufalem,  to  devote  the  Temple  they 
had  built  there  to  an  obfervance  of  the 
public  fervices  of  piety  ;  and  king  Solomon,  in 
their  name,  and  as  their  mouth,  adores  that  glo 
rious  being,  whom  the  heaven  of  heavens  cannot 
contain,  humbly  fupplicating  that  he  would  graci- 
oufly  condefcend  to  hearken  to  the  cry  of  his  peo 
ple  when  they  Ihould  pray  to  him  in  this  houfe  :  in 
imitation  of  ib  pious  an  example,  let  us,  upon  our 
return  to  our  houfe  of  worfhip,  after  long  abfence, 
to  make  way  for  its  being  fo  repaired  as  to  be 
comfortable  and  convenient  ;  let  us,  I  fay,  make 
it  our  prayer,  that  the  God  who  dwelleth  on  high 
would  hearken  to  our  fupplications  when  we  pray 

in 


Mi        97 


[      6      J 

in  this  place*  and  that  his  ears  may  be  open,  both 
night  and  day,  to  hear  in  heaven,  and  do  for  us 
according  to  the  greatnefs  of  his  mercy  in  Chrift. 
And,  as  we  are  now  afTembled  to  pay  a  religious 
regard  to  the  public  offices  of  piety,  may  it  pleafe 
God  to  enable  you,  with  an  engaged  ferioufnefs, 
to  attend  to  what  may  now  be  offered  to  lead  you, 
fo  far  as  I  am  able,  into  an  intelligible,  though 
inadequate  idea  of  the  truth  meant,  when  it  is  faid 
of  God,  in  my  text,  that  the  heaven  of  heavens  can 
not  contain  him,  much  lefs  any  houfe  built  'with  hands  ;. 
and  to  mew  you  that  this  is  a  real  truth.  I  fhall  be 
as  brief  as  poffible  upon  thefe  points,  that  I  may 
have  time  and  ftrength  to  enlarge  upon  fuch  re 
flections  as  are  important  in  themfelves,  and  may 
be  feafonable  for  us  to  confider  and  improve 
under  prefent  circumftances. 

ACCORDING  to  this  method  I  would  begin  with 
faying,  that,  when  God  is  reprefented  as  not  con 
tained  in  the  heaven  of  heavens,  much  lefs  in  any 
houfe  built  with  hands,  his  OMNIPRESENCE 
is  the  truth  intended  to  be  conveyed.  It  would 
be  a  wrong  fentiment  of  God,  fhould  we  conceive 
of  him  as  confined  to  heaven,  or  earth,  or  any 
particular  place  in  thefe  worlds  ;  for  ne  is,  if  I 
may  fo  fpeak,  difFufed  all  over  heaven  and  earth, 
yea,  all  parts  of  the  univerfe  •,  infomuch,  that  he 
is  no  where  excluded,  but  as  truly  prefent  in  every 
place,  as  in  any  place  at  all.  It  may  feem  to  us, 
as  though  the  fpace  that  is  occupied  by  created 
bodies  and  fpirits  would  exclude  the  prefcnce  of 
God,  at  lead  from  thefe  parts  of  fpace.  But  this 
is  owing  to  our  ignorance  of  God,  our  incapacity 
of  conceiving  juftly  of  the  MANNER  in  which 

he 


[     7     3 

he  exifts.  He  exifts  in  all  other  exigencies. 
His  preience  pervades  their  very  ESSENCE. 
There  is  no  fuch  thing  as  pofiefiing  exiftence 
where  God  is  not  prefent ;  there  is  no  going  where 
he  is  not.  To  this  purpofe  is  that  beautifully 
ftriking  language  of  the  inspired  David,  in  the 
J39th  Pfalm,  Whither  Jhall  I  go  from  thy  fpirit  ? 
or  whither  Jhall  I  flee  from  thy  pre fence  ?  Jf  I  afcend 
up  into  heaven,  thou  art  there  :  if  I  make  my  bed  in 
hell,  behold  thou  art  there :  if  I  take  the  wings  of  the 
morning  and  dwell  in  the  uttermofl  parts  of  the  fea, 
even  there  Jhall  thy  hand  lead  me,  and  thy  right  hand 
Jhall  hold  me.  If  I  fay,  furely  the  'darknejs  Jhall  co 
ver  me,  even  the  night  Jhall  be  light  about  me  ;  yea, 
the  darknefs  hideth  not  from  thee,  but  the  night 
Jhineth  as  the  day :  the  daiknefs  and  the  light  are 
both  alike  to  tbee."  The  prelence  of  God  knows 
no  bounds.  It  is  not  limited  to  this  or  any  of  the 
other  worlds  that  conftitute  the  univerfe.  Thofe, 
\ve  have  abundant  reafon  to  believe,  are  vaftly  nu 
merous,  as  well  as  large,  taking  up  an  inconceiva 
ble  extent  of  fpace.  But  we  may  not  think,  that 
they  are  the  boundaries  or  limits  of  the  Deity's 
pretence.  He  not  only  fills  thefe  worlds,  and 
every  place  in  them,  but  that  whole  extra  mun 
dane  fpace  in  which  almighty  power  might  dill  be 
difplayedin  makingncw  worlds  beyond  the  utmoft 
ilretch  of  the  imagination  of  men  or  angels. 

THE  fcriptures,  it  is  true,  fpeak  of  God  as  dwel 
ling  in  heaven,  and  coming  down  from  heaven  to 
earth.  It  reprefents  him  as  having  had  his.  reji- 
dence  in  the  tabernacle  creeled  by  Mofes ;  and  as 
leaving  that,  and  taking  up  his  abode  in  \httemplc 
that  was  built  by  Solomon,  But  thefe  are  figu 
rative 


C       8       ] 

rative  modes  of  exprefllon,  not  intended  to  lead 
us  into  an  apprehenfion,  as  though  God  was  noc 
at  all  times  equally  prefent,  in  regard  of  his  exift- 
ence,  in  all  places  whatfoever ;  but  to  give  us  to 
UTiderftand  that  heaven  is  the  place  where  he  mod 
conftantly  and  glorioufiy  makes  it  appear  that  he 
is  prefent  ;  and  that  the  tabernacle  of  Mofes,  and 
the  temple  of  Solomon,  were  for  a  while,  and  du 
ring  the  pleafure  of  God,  the  places  from  whence 
he  law  fie  to  make  manifeft  his  prefence  by  com 
munications  of  mercy  or  judgement.  He  was 
as  truly  prefent  in  all  other  places  of  the  earth,  as 
in  this  tabernacle  and  temple ;  though  not  to  the 
fame  purpofes  of  manifeftation.  And  he  is  now, 
and  has  all  along  been,  as  really  prefent  on  earth, 
and  in  every  part  of  it,  as  in  heaven  itfelf ;  though 
heaven  is  the  place  where  he  makes  it  apparent, 
in  the  higheft  and  nobleft  fenfe,  that  he  is  prefent : 
and  he  is  accordingly  faid,  after  the  manner  of 
fpeaking  among  men,  to  be  there,  to  have  his 
tbrvne  there,  and  to  live  and  dwell  there.  The 
plain  truth  is,  notwithftanding  the  modes  of  fpeech 
which  have  been  mentioned,  which,  though 
figurative,  and  borrowed  from  comparatively  low 
il mili tudcs,  are  well  adapted  to  human  weaknefs ; 
I  fay,  that  notwithftanding  thefe  modes  of  fpeak* 
icg,  we  muft  conceive  of  God  as  abfolutely  un- 
confined  in  the  extent  of  his  exiftence,  as  being 
at  once  prefent  throughout  the  univcrfe,  and  be 
yond  it,  in  all  places,  and  in  all  fpace,  without 
bounds  and  limits.  And  reafon  concurs  with  re 
velation  in  leading  us  into  this  idea  of  God. 

WE  are  a  flu  red,  from  the  regular  cxercife  of 
cur  reafonable  powers,  that  the  God  we  believe 

in, 


I      9      3 

in,  and  worfhip,  is  an  infinitely  perfect  being;  and 
if  he  is  infinitely  perfect,  he  mud  be  unlimited  in 
the  extent  of  his  exiftence.  Thefe  ideas  are  infepa- 
fably  connected  with  each  other.  We  find,by  expe 
rience,  that  we,  who  are  the  higheft  order  of  beings 
in  this  lower  world,  are  confined  in  our  exiftence 
within  a  narrow  fphere,  not  being  able  to  be  pre- 
fent  but  in  one  place  at  the  iame  time,  and  being 
equally  unable  to  move  from  this  place  to  that 
but  within  certain  limits,  and  in  certain  periods 
of  time  :  and  from  hence  we  certainly  know,  be- 
caufc  w^e  feel  it  to  be  true,  that  \ve  po fiefs  exift 
ence  in  an  imperfect  degree  only,  as  it  is  thus 
bounded  in  its  extent :  and  from  hence  alfo  we 
cart  readily  perceive,  that,  by  enlarging  the  extent 
of  exiftence  in  our  imaginations,  we  fhall  have  an 
idea  of  it  as  dill  more  perfect ;  and  by  enlarging 
it  to  the  utmoft  of  our  capacky,  and  then,  fuppo- 
fmg  it  ftill  capable  of  enlargement  beyond  all 
bounds,  we  come  as  near  as  our  intellectual  pow 
ers  will  permit,  to  exiftence  that  is  infinitely  per 
fect.  And  fuch  exiftence  mull  be  attributed  to 
God.  He  muft  be  fuppoied  to  fill  heaven  and 
earth,  all  worlds,  all  things,  all  place,  all  fpace  with 
his  boundlefs  and  unlimited  prefence  ;  or  his  ex 
iftence  will  be  lefs  perfect  than  it  might  be,  thac 
is,  he  will  not  be  an  abfolutely  perfect  being, 
or,  in  Other  words,  he  will  not  be  God.  The  argu 
ing,  from  natural  realbn,  is  equally  ftrong  in  proof 
of  all  the  perfections  of  God.  As  he  is  a  felf- 
cxiftent  Being,  without  beginning  to  be,  or  deriv 
ing  what  he  is  from  any  other,  there  is  the  fame 
reafon  to  afcribe  to  him  one  perfection  as  another, 
and  every  perfection  without  limitation  in  degree. 
There  is  therefore,  upon  the  foot  of  realbn,  as 

B  good 


[       io      3 

good  grounds  to  think,  that  he  poflefles  abfolnte- 
iy  excenfive  exiftence,  as  rhat  he  poflcfTesit  at  all. 
For  what  is  there  that  fhould  limit  his  exiftence, 
confining  it  within  thefe  or  thofe  b.ounds  ?  We 
know  of  nothing,  we  can  conceive  of  nothing  ; 
but  are  unavoidably  led  to  think,  from  his  having 
exiftence  at  all,  that  he  is  not  confined  within  any 
•iuppofable  bounds,  but  is  univerfally  diiFufed, 
all  worlds,  all  things,  and  all  fpace. 


BUT  the  omniprefence  of  God  is  thedoftrine 
of  revelation,  as  well  as  of  reafon.  The  facred 
books  that  contain  the  revelations  of  God,  it  is 
true,  do  not  enter  upon  a  philofophical  confider- 
ation  of  any  of  the  divine  attributes  ;  but  treac 
of  them  principally  in  a  way  that  is  adapted  to 
anfwer  the  ends  of  piety.  And  thus  it  fpeaks  of 
the  u  preience"  of  God  ;  not  concerning  itfelf 
fo  much  about  its  ftrict  philofophic  notion,  as  to 
lead  us  into  luch  fentiments  with  reference  to  its 
extent,  as  may  be  of  moil  ufe  to  the  purpofes 
-of  religion.  And  it  fufHciently  gives  us  to  under 
stand,  that  it  is  amazingly  extenfive,  not  being 
confined  to  heaven,  but  dirfufing  itfelf  fo  as  to 
dill  both  heaven  and  earth.  The  language  of  the 
bible  is  emphatically  ftrong  to  this  purpofc. 
Says  the  prophet  Jeremiah,  perfonating  the  greac 
God  himielf  by  commiflion  from  him,  Do  not  I 
Jj!/  heaven,  and  earth  ?  The  inJpired  David,  in  the 
J30th  Pialm,  very  ftronaly,  as  well  as  beautifully 
ddcribes  the  bleilcd  God,  as  "  prefent  every 
u'he  e,  in  heaven,  in  hell,  in  the  uttermoft  parts 
of  the  ica  •,"  yea,  as  tc  poffcfling  our  very  reins." 
And  the  great  apollle  of  the  Grntiles,  in  making 
-kno\v;i  the  one  true  and  living  God,  to  the  ido 

latrous 


htrous  people  at    Athens,  defcribes  him  to   diemy 
A6ts  xvii.  27,  28.  Not  as  far  from  every  one  of  us  -, 
for  in  hi  in  we  live*  and  move,  and  have  our  being. 

IT  may  not  be  unworthy  of  notice  here,  that  the 
omnifcience  and  omniprefence    of  God    involve- 
each  other  ;  at  lead,  they  are  fo  nearly  and  cloie- 
3y  connected,  that  we  cannoc  eafily,  if  at  all,  con 
ceive  of  the  one    without  the  other.     Perhaps, 
they   are  infc-parable.     It  may  be,  God  could  noc 
be  omnifcient,  if  he  was  not  omniprefent.     Now, 
the  fcripture   is  full  and  exprefs  in  declaring  the 
omnifcience  of  God,  which  is  a  contlrudlive  proof 
of  his  omniprefence  alfo.     He  is  represented  as 
knowing  all  things^  whether   paft,  prcfenc,    or  to 
come.     He  is  laid  to  be  well  acquainted  with 
even  the  hearts  ef  all  the  children  of  men,  the  devi 
ces,  imaginations,  purpofes,  and  mod  fecret  work 
ing  ;  yea,   we    are   a  flu  red,   that  "  miking  is  hid 
from  his  allfeeing  eye"    and  that    he   has  a  molt 
clear,  perfect,  and  certain  knowledge  of  all  things, 
not  excepting  the  volitions,  and  determinations, 
of  free  intelligent  agents,  however,  they  may    be 
fecreted    from   all   other  beings  whatever.     The 
infpired   David,   with    equal  propriety   and    ele 
gance,   expre/Tes  himfelr   upon    this   matter,     in 
the  i39th  Pfalm,  0  Lord,  thou  baft  fearcbedmt,  and 
known   me,  thou  knoweft  my  down  fining,  and  mine 
up  rifing,  thou  underjiandefl  my   thoughts  afar  off,. 
1  hou  compajjefl  my  path,  and  my  lying  down,  and  art 
.  acquainted  with  ail  my  ways.     For  there  is  not  a 
word  in  my  tongue,  but  lo  !   O  Lord,  thou  kncwefl  it 
altogether.     Thou  ha/i  befet  me  behind  and  before, 
and  laid  thine  hand  upon  me.     1  c  is  obvious  to  per 
ceive,  that,  in  elide  words  of  the   holy   prophet, 

there 


I         «.        1 

ihere  is  a  connection  between  the  knowledge  and 
prefence  of  God.  This  is  obfervablyconfpicuous 
in  the  gd  verfe,  Thou  compafleft  my  patb>  and  my 
lying  do'wny  and  art  acquainted  with  all  my  ways. 
And  it  fhpuld  feem  as  though  he  had  it  in  direct 
view  to  ground,  the  ornnifcienceof  God,  of  which 
he  had  been  fpeaking,  upon  his  omniprefence, 
for  he  goes  on,  in  the  following  verfe  to  tell  us, 
ihere  was  n®  going  from  Ms  prefence  ;  for  he  exift- 
ed  in  heaven,  in  hell,  on  earth,  and  even  in  the 
hearts  of  men.  A  mod  marvellous  truth  this ; 
but  yet,  a  mod  certain  one,  as  we  have  feen  both 
from  reafon  and  revelation. 

I  NOW  proceed  to. what  |  had  principally  in  view, 
in  the  choice  of  this  lubject,  to  make  the  proper 
reflections  which  are  deduciblefrom  it.  And, 

I.  IF  God  is  prefent  every  where,  then  he  is 
equally  the  object  of  adoration  and  worfhip  in 
all  parts  of  the  earth,  and  may  reafonably  be 
prayed  to  in  this,  or  that,  or  the  other  place,  ei 
ther  on  the  fea,  or  the  dry  land.  For,  being 
omniprcfent,  we  can  be  in  no  place  where  his  ear 
will  not  be  open  to  our  cry  :  and  he  can  as  well 
bear,  and  anfvyer  our  requelts  in  one  place  as 
another. 

IT  is  true,  mould  God  be  pleafed  to  fpecify  any 
one  place  in  diilinction  from  another,  as  the  place 
\vhere  he  would  be  applied  to,  and  from  whence 
be  would  make  the  manifeftations  of  his  prefence 
i.n  the  bcitowment  of  favours  ;  it  would  now  be 
fit  and  reaibnable  he  mould  be  worihiped  in  this 
place  in  preference  to,  and  difthi&ipn  from,  every 

other. 


C     13    •] 

other.     And  thus  it  was,  refpe&ing  the  Jews  of 
old.     The  tabernacle,   in  the  days  of  Moles,  and 
forfeveral  ages,  was  thefpecial  place,  where  God 
had  declared  he  would  be  prefent  to  the  purpofes 
of  manifefting  himfelf  in  bleflings  to  his  people. 
In    this    place  therefore,  rather  than   any  other, 
and  in  diftin6tion  from  every   other,  it  was  their 
duty,  as  a  nation,   to  pay  their  religious  homage 
to  him.     The  Divine    preience,  as  to  its  mani- 
feftation,  was  removed,   in  the  days  of  Solomon, 
from  the  tabernacle   to   the  temple  at  Jerufalem. 
This  became  now  the  habitation  of  God,  the 
place  from  whence  he  commanded   the  bluffing  : 
and  to  this  place  it  was  that  the  tribes  of  Ifrael 
were  obliged  to,  come,  from  all  parts  of  Canaan^ 
to  offer  facriftce,  and  pay  religious  honour  to  the 
Deity.     But  the  gofpcl  of  Chrift  makes   no  dif 
ference  between  one   place   and  another.     The 
time  has  long  fince  come,  when  the  command  to, 
worlhip  him  at  Jerufalem,  or  in  any    one  place 
in     diftinftion     from     another,    is    no    more   in. 
force ;  but  we  may  pay   homage   to  our  Maker 
in  any  place  whatever.     It   is  of  no  importance 
tvhere  this   is    done  :    only,  we  mull  "  worfhip 
God  in  fpirit,  and  in  truth."     Men  may,   under; 
the   influence  of  fuperdition,  or   to    ferve  their 
worldly  ends,  confecrate  certain  fpots  of  ground, 
and  the  buildings  creeled  on  them  \  calling  them 
holy,  as  being,  after  their  conlecration,  the  habi 
tations  of  God,   the  places    where  he  is  more  pe 
culiarly  prefent  than  in  other  places  :  but  it  ought 
to  be  icrioully    realized,   that  no  pried,  bifhop, 
pope,   or    any  power    on   earth,   can  confine  the- 
preience    of  the  immenfe   Being,    as  to  any   re 
ligious  purpqfe,   to  any   bo.ufe  built  wiih  hands  \t 

nor 


[        14       ] 

nor  are  there  any  offices  of  divine  woriBip,  but 
may  be  as  truly  acceptable  to  God  in  any  place, 
as  in  the  bcft  confederated  temple,  provided  they 
are  performed  "  with  clean  hands  and  a  pure 
heart." 

IT  is  obfervable,  we  read,  in  the  i acred  books, 
that  our  Saviour  fometimes  preached  from  the  fide 
of  a  fifhing  ve(Tel,to  thofe  who  itood  on  the  more  -y 
fometimes  from  the  declining  part  of  a  mountain  ; 
fometimes  in  the  wilderneis  •,  fometimes  in  a  pri 
vate  houfe  •,  and  fometimes  in  the  open  field  : 
and  he  much  oftener  carried  on  the  worihip  of 
God,  with  his  difciples  and  followers,  in  fuch 
places  as  thefe,  than  in  the  Jewifh  fynagogues,  or 
even  the  temple  itielf  j  which  furely  he  never 
would  have  done,if  hi?  gofpel  had  not  taken  away 
all  diftindtion  between  one  place  and  another  ; 
infomuch,  that  where  ever  any  meet  together  in 
his  name,  and  to  worfhip  the  father  through  his 
mediation,  they  may  be  fure  of  being  accepted, 
if  they  lift  up  holy  hands  with  a  pure  heart. 

NOT  but  that  it  is  highly  fit  houfes  mould  be 
creeled  for  public  worfhip  ;  for  worfhipping  God, 
in  a  public  manner,  is  both  a  moral  and  in  fit  tut cd 
duty  •,  and  being  fo,  houfes  muft  be  built  for  this 
purpofe  ;  otherwife  people  could  not  come  to 
gether,  at  dated  times,  to  join  as  one  in  paying 
homage  to  their  Maker. 

IT  was  under  the  influence  of  thefe  fentiments, 
that  the  fathers  of  this  church,  in  ancient  times, 
built  the  firft  church  for  public  worfbip  in  this 
town.  It  ilood  at  a  fmail  diftance  from  die  fouth- 

caft 


[       15       1 

eaft  corner  of  the  prefent  State  Houfe.  Here  they 
met  for  public  worlhip  about  nine  or  ten  years.  A 
larger  and  more  commodious  houfe  was  then  buik 
•  in  the  place  where  we  now  worfbip.  The  firft 
fermon  preached  in  it  was  on  Auguft  the  23d,  1640. 
If  we  reckon  from  this  date,  that  houfe  was  made 
ufe  of  for  the  public  fervices  of  religion  feventy  one 
years,  when  it  was  reduced  to  afhes  by  the  moft 
extenfively  defolating  fire  that  was  ever  known  in 
Bofton.  By  the  belt  accounts  I  have  been  able 
to  get,  about  one  hundred  and  ten  families  were 
forced  out  of  their  dwelling  places,  fome  of  which 
fuffered  much  in  their  worldly  intereft,  others 
were  deprived  of  ail  they  had.  A  number  of 
perfons  alfoloft  their  lives,  either  by  blowing  up 
of  houfes,  or  by  venturing  too  far  to  quench  the 
flames,  or  refcue  endangered  goods  from  deftrudti- 
on.  Awfully  diftrefiing  indeed  was  this  night, 
as  alfo  was  the  face  of  our  defolate  places  the 
next  day.  I  was  myfelf,  when  a  little  boy,  a 
fpedtator  of  the  devouring  flames,  and  the  defo- 
lation  occafioned  by  them.  God  grant  we  may 
never  fee  again  iuch  an  awful  fire.  It  was  not 
judged  convenient  to  rebuild  with  wood  ;  and  the 
winter  coming  on,  when  brick  work  could  noc 
be  well  engaged  in,  it  was  defered  till  the  fpring* 
to  which  it  was  owing  that  about  one  year  and  fe- 
ven  months  were  completed  before  we  could  meec 
together  in  an  houfe  of  our  own  to  worfhip  our 
maker.  The  nrfl  fermon  preached  in  this  then 
new  houfe  was  on  May  the  3d.  1713.  Through 
the  kind  providence  of  him  who  is  head  over  all 
for  tbe  good  of  the  church^  no  bad  accidents,  no  evil 
occurrences,  have  wholly  hindered  our  worfhip- 
ping  God  in  this  houfe,  till,  by  the  decays  naturally 

arifing 


arilmg  From  a  courfe  of  years,  it  became  necelTa- 
ry  it  fhould  be  repaired.  This  has  been  done, 
thanks  be  to  God,  with  remarkable  harmony 
among  yourfelves,  and  fafety  to  thofe  who  have 
been  your  workmen.  Permit  me  to  rejoice  with 
you  on  this  account,  as  a!fo,  that,  while  your  houfe 
was  repairing,  brotherly  love  lo  pleafingly  and 
confpicuoufly  fubfifted  between  you,  and  the  Sif 
ter  Church  with  whom  you  united  in  your  atten 
dance  on  gofpel  institutions,  and  that  we  parted, 
not  with  divided  hearts,  but  in  the  exercife  of  that 
mutual  love  which  becometh  the  difciples  of  Je- 
fus. 

I  CONGRATULATE  you,  my  brethren  in  Chrift, 
not  in  a  way  of  ceremonial  compliment,  but  with 
that  fincerity  which  is  always  proper,  when  a  Gof 
pel  Minifter  is  fpeaking  from  the  facred  defk  ;  I 
congratulate  you  upon  your  having  repaired  this 
houfe,  adapting  it  with  decency  and  convenience 
to  the  purpofe  of  your  meeting  together  to  pay 
homage  to  the  fupreme  Governour  of  the  world. 
I  doubt  nor  you  entered  into  God's  courts  this 
morning  with  praife,  making  your  Applications  to 
the  father  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  in  fome  iuch 
language  as  that  of  the  24th  Pfalm,  uttered  upon 
the  Ark's  being  fixed  in  the  temple  of  old, built  by 
the  fpecial  direction  of  heaven,  Lift  up  your  heads> 
O  ye  gates,  and  be  lifted  up  ye  evcrlafting  doorsjhat  the 
King  of  glory  may  come  in.  You  will  not  imagine, 
that  the  God  of  glory  will  come  down  to  dwell 
in  this  houfe,  as  he  dwelt  in  the  tabernacle  built 
by  Mofes,  or  in  the  temple  built  afterwards  by 
Solomon  :  But  he  may,  and  will,  if  it  be  not 
your  own  fault,  dwell  in-  it  in  a1  far  higher  and 

better 


t       '7       1 

better  manner,  in 'the  fpiritual  fenfe  ;  that  is,  to 
the  purpoies  of"  fuch  graces  as  mall  prepare  you 
for  admiffion  into  his  temple,  in  the  Jerufalcm 
that  is  above,  where  you  ihall  give  glory  to  God, 
and  the  Lamb  in  all  perfeftion,  and  io  as  that  you 
(hall  be  uninierrnptably  happy  forever. 

THE  houfe  you  have  repaired,  and  in  which 
you  begin  this  morning  to  pay  homage  to  the  De 
ity,  is,  as  to  external  appearance,  more  convenient 
and  beautiful,  than  in  its  former  ftate.  May 
the  fpiritual  glory  of  this  latter  houfe  be  greater 
than  that  of  die  former.  The  firft  houfe,  I  have 
reafon  to  believe,  had  often  the  glory  of  the  grace 
of  God  through  Jefus  Chrift,  manifefted  in  it,  by 
the  converfion  ot  tinners,  and  edification  of  faints 
in  faith,  comfort  and  holintfs,  until  they  were 
crowned  with  eternal  life.  May  this  glory  of  the 
Lord  be  more  univerfally  and  confpicuoufly  dif- 
played  in  this  latter  houfe,  under  the  minidrations 
of  your  prefent  paftors,  and  all  fucceeding  ones, 
that  it  may  be  faid  of  multitudes  that  they  were 
born  here,  in  the  fpiritual  fenfe,  that  they  were 
nurtured  here,  and  carried  on  from  babes  in 
Chrift,  until  they  attained  io  the  (latureof  men, 
and  were  formed  to  a  metenefs  for  heavenly  glory. 

NEARLY  fixty  years,  are  now  compleated,  my 
beloved  brethren,  fince  I  have  been  with  you  in 
the  fervice  of  the  Gofpcl  ;  and  my  labours,  I  truit, 
have  not  been  wholly  in  vain,  notwithftanding 
my  manifold  infirmities  and  imperfections. 
Need  I  an  epiftle  of  commendation  from  you  ? 
Ye  are  yourielves,  fome  of  you,  I  have  abundant 
reafon  to  believe,  my  epiftle,  yea  rather  the  epiftle 

C  of 


•I     i*     3 

of  Chrift,  through  a  divine  influence,  accompany 
ing  my  minift rations,  however  unworthy,  written 
not  with  ink,  but  with  the  fpirit  of  the  living  God  ^ 
not  in  tables  of  ftone,  but  in  fiefhy  tables  ot  the 
heart.  Such  truft  have  I  through  Chrift,  God- 
ward.  And  it  is  my  joy  now,  and  may  it  be  my 
crown  of  rejoicing  in  the  pretence  of  the  Lord 
Jefus  Chrift  at  his  coming  ! 

I  AM  now  grown  old,  and  unable^  through  ma 
nifold  infirmities,  to  go  on  with  the  work  of  the 
facred  miniftry.  Thanks  be  to  God  you  have  my 
fon  in  the  goipel  to  fupply  my  place,  and  he  will 
do  it  much  to  your  advantage,  as  he  is  now  in 
the  prime  of  life,  and  fingularly  qualified  to  ferve 
the  intereft  of  Chrift  among  you.  I  am  decreaf- 
ed,  and  fhall  decreaie  ftill  more  and  more,  but  he 
will  increale  :  God  grant  it  may  be  in  all  fpiritual 
\vifdom  and  underftanding,  that  he  may  be  more 
and  more  furnifhed  for  a  mailer-workman  in 
the  kingdom  of  Chrift.  God  Almighty  blefs  him, 
and  make  him,  and  long  continue  him,  a  rich  blef- 
••fing  to  you  and  yours  ;  and  may  he  be  improved 
by  heaven,  as  an  inRrument  of  turning  many  to 
lighteoufnefs,  that  he  may  ihine  as  a  ftar  of  the 
fir  it  magnitude,  in  the  firmament  of  heaven, 
iorcver  and  ever. 

I  SHALL  now  conclude  with  a  few  words  of  ad 
vice,  which  you  may  look  upon  as  the  lalt  and 
•dying,  words  of  your  aged  paftor  from  this  defk, 
as  he  does  not  expect  to  be  much  longer  with 
you  ;  and  my  beloved  fon  in  Chrift,  will 
1  doubt  not,  join  with  me  in  recommending  them 
to  you, 


[      '9      ] 

IN: the  firfl  place  :  As  that  day,  which,  from 
the  Apoftle  John,  and  in  his  (tile,  we  call  the  Lord's 
dayy  is  eminently  the  day  on  which  it  is  you? 
duty  to  appear  in  the  courts  of  the  Lord's  houfe, 
be  advifed  to  make  it  your  delight  to  rejoice 
at  its  approach,  and  not  to  fuffer  it  to  be  a  wea- 
rinefs  to  you.  Be  glad  at  every  return  of  this 
appointed  feafon  to  glorify  God  in  the  houfe  of  his 
glory.  This  was  the  temper  of  holy  David,  and 
inuft,  in  a  good  degree,  be  your's,  or  you  will 
not  carry  in  your  breads,  one  of  the  ftrongeil 
proofs,  that  you  are  poflcffec!  of  that  real  piety, 
without  which  you  cannot,  upon  afolid  foundati 
on,  hope  for  the  falvation  of  God.  Diftinguifh 
yourfelves  from  thofe  multitudes,  in  this  degena- 
rate  age,  who  are  made  uneafy  upon  feeing  the 
light  of  this  day  of  God,  and  feel  impatient  until 
it  is  parted  and  gone ;  and  fet  before  their  view 
fuch  an  example  of  pious  regard  to  the  Lord's 
day,  as  may  happily  tend  to  excite  in  them  a  care 
of  imitation. 

BE  advifed  alfo  to  be  fieady  and  conftant  in- 
waiting  upon  God  in  the  place  where  his  honour 
dwells.  Jt  is  amazing  condefcention  in  the  Ma- 
jeftv  of  heaven,  that  he  will  permit  fuch  worms 
of  the  dud  as  we  are,  to  appear  in  any  houfe  we 
may  build  to  meet  in  to  worjliip  him.  He  hum 
bles  himfelf  to  take  notice  of  the  adoration  of 
angels  :  and  yet  he  readily  bows  the  heavens, 
and  comes  down,  that  he  may  fill  his  houfes  for 
worfbip  with  his  glory.  Will  you  not  then  re 
joice  at  opportunities  of  appearing  in  this  houfe, 
where  you  may  hope  he  will  inanifeil  his  glory  ? 
You  cannot,  in  any  way.,  do  greater  honour  to 

yourfelves^ 


[          20         ] 

yourfclves,  or  put  yourfelves    under   greater   ad 
vantages  in  order  to  your  obtaining  the  bleffing, 
even  live  forever  more.     Do  not  fuffer  yourfelves 
to    be  needlefsly  abfent  from   the  houfe  of  God, 
but  attend  there  in  a  Heady,  uniform  courfe,   on 
the  inftitutions  of  divine  worfhip.      Content  noc 
yourfelves  wkb  joining  in  prayer,   and  in  hearing 
the  preached  word  ;    but  pay  all  due  honour  ta 
the  ordinance  of  the  fupper.     In  obedience  to  the 
command  of  God's  King  in  Zion,  neglect  not  to 
eat  bread,   and   drink  wine,  in  remembrance  of 
him   who  died  for  your  fins,  that,   by   making 
atonement  for  them,  he  might  open  a  way  for 
the    difplay   of  God's  mercy    in    their  pardon. 
Breaking  bread  at  the  table  of  Chrift,  is  a  plain, 
exprefs  part  of  gofpel  worlhip,  and  as  proper  and 
iuitable    an  one  as  any  that  has    been  appointed 
to  be  attended  on  in  his  houfe,  and  as  neceffary  an 
one,  in  point  of  obligation,  to  be  regarded  by  all 
who  call  themfelves  the  difciples  of  Chrift.     Let 
thofe    among  you  who   have   hitherto  been  un 
mindful  of  their  duty,  in  this  fpecial  inftance,    be 
humbled  in  a  fenfe  of  their  pad  neglect,    and  at 
Jength  be  perfuaded  to  come  into  the  fteady  con 
tinued  practice  of  it,  that  the  attendants    at   the 
gofpel  lupper  may  be  numerous,  more  fo  in  the 
latter  houie  than  in  the  former. 

BE  advifed  again  to  come  feafonably  to  this 
houie  of  worfhip,  from  fabbath  to  fabbath,  fo  as 
that  no  part  of  the  publick  devotion  of  the  fanc- 
ruary  may  be  carried  on  without  your  joining  in 
it.  You  are  fo  fituated,  in  common  with  the 
other  chriilian  focieties  in  this  town,  that  you 
;n ay,  with  cafe,  if  it  be  not  your  own  fault, 

aficmble 


[         21         ] 

affemble  together  fo  nearly  at  the  fame  time,  as 
thac  you  may  all  unite  as  one  in  every  exercife 
of  publick  piety  towards  God.  And  it  is  pity,  thac 
any,  through  careleflhefs,  or  any  worie  cauie, 
fhould  come  Ib  late  t<)  God's  houfe,  as  to  lofe  the 
opportunity  of  bearing  their  part  in  beginning 
the  worfhip  of  God,  whether  by  prayer,  reading 
his  holy  word,  or  tinging  to  his  praife.  Too 
common  a  fault  this,  in  all  our  churches,  and  ic 
were  to  be  wifhed  it  might  be  generally  amended. 

BE  advifed  yet  further  to  take  all  due  care, 
that  the  fervices  of  God's  houfe  be  performed  in  a 
becoming  manner.  In  order  whereto,  your  out 
ward  behaviour  ihould  be  grave,  ferious,  and  not, 
in  any  meafure,  exprefTive  of  levity,  carelefihefs, 
and  indifferency,  with  rcfpect  to  thofe  exercifes  of 
piety,you  meet  together  to  unite  in.  I  am  not  going 
to  point  one  to  you  any  particular  geftures  of  body, 
whether  kneeling,  or  itanding,  or  fitting,  as  molt 
decent  j  nor  to  fpeuk  of  any  one  gefture  as  fuited 
to  one  pare  of  worfhip,  and  another  as  better  to 
another.  I  fhall  leave  this  to  thofe  who  are  fond 
of  ceremonial  nicety,  and  imagine  God  is  fo  too. 
All  I  aim  at  faying  is  only  this  in  general,  thac 
you  mould  maintain  zf  care  of  appearing  outward 
ly  decent  and  reverent  in  the  time  of  worfhip  ; 
reftraining  yourfeives  from  any  thing,  either  in 
look,  gcllure,  or  behaviour  that  is  light,  or  vain, 
or  in.  any  refpect  unbecoming  the  pretence  you 
are  in,  or  the  folemn  duties  you  are  to  perform. 

• 
BUT  it  is  not  enough  that  you  behave  in  God's 

houfe  \vich  external  decency  ;  but  there  muft  be 
a  lib  the  invvird  reverence  of  your  hearts,  in  all  the 

afts 


[         22         J 

afts  of  divine  worfhip  you  engage  in.  Remem 
ber,  there  may  be  the  former  where  there  is  not 
the  latter.  Your  deportment  in  the  houfe  of  the 
Lord  may  be  vifibly  ferious  and  devout,  while  yet 
your  thoughts  may  he  vainly  wandering  to 
the  ends  of  the  earth.  You  may  come, 
and  fit  before  God  in  his  houfe,  and  all  the  while 
your  hearts  may  be  going  after  coveteoufnefs,pride, 
fenfuality,  or  fome  luft  or  other.  It  is  not  there 
fore  enough,  that  you  are  externally  decent  in  the 
time  of  worfhip,  but  you  mould  revere  and  honour 
the  God  you  adore,  in  your  hearts  •,  bearing  it  in 
mind,  that  he  is  a  fpirit,  and  will  be  plealed  with 
no  worfhip  but  that  which  is  performed  in  fpirit, 
and  in  truth.  Whenever,  therefore,  you  come  to 
God's  houfe  to  attend  on  the  inftitutions  of  piety, 
look  well  to  your  inward  frame  of  mind,  and  be 
above  all  things  careful,  that  you  yield  to  God 
the  love  of  your  hearts,  and  ferve  him  with  true 
gofpel  fincerity.  For  God  looketh  not  at  the  out 
ward  appearance,  but  the  heart  ;  and  will  not 
therefore  efleem  himfelf  fanffified  by  thcfe  who  come 
nigh  him,  unlels  they  ferve  him  with  reverence  and 
godly  fear.  The  upright  in  their  worfhip  are  thofe 
only  his  count f nance  will  behold  with  delight. 

FINALLY,  be  advifed  to  exhibit  and  maintain  a 
cooftftent  character;  not  imagining  that  your  whole 
duty  lies  infanffuary  devotion^  or  that  this  will  atone 
for  the  fins  of  your  lives.  It  is  afure  truth,  and 
you  mould  imprefs  it  on  your  minds  as  fuch,  thac 
you  will  only  trifle  with  God  in  the  fervices  of  his 
houfe,  if,  when  you  go  from  it,  you  behave  as 
men  of  the  world^  whofe  only  portion  is  here.  The 
whole  tenor  of  your  converlation  fliould  corrcfpond 

to 


[         23         ] 

to  the  facred  exercifes  of  the  place  'where  his  honour 
dwells.  You  fhould  make  it  appear  to  all  you 
converfe  with,  that  the  love  of  God  reigns  in  your 
hearts.  And  from  love  to  him,  and  a  principle  of 
unfeigned  faith  in  Jefus  Chrift,a  vein  of  true  chrif- 
tian  piety  and  goodnefs  fhould  run  through  your 
whole  conduct  in  life.  Holinefs  to  the  Lord 
fhould  be  infcribed  on  all  your  employments  and 
enjoyments.  Whether  you  eat  or  drink,  whether 
you  buy  or  fell,  or  whatever  you  do,  you  fliould 
do  all  to  the  glory  of  God,  and  in  the  name  of 
Chrift  :  fo  may  you  hope,  and  upon  juft  and 
folid  grounds,  that  your  facrifices  of  prayer  and 
praife,  and  all  your  acts  of  devotion,  whether 
they  are  offered  to  God  from  your  clofet,  families, 
or  his  houfe  of  worfhip,  will  be  acceptable  to 
him  •,  and  that,  from  worfhipping  and  ferving  him 
here  on  earth,  you  mall,  in  proper  feafon,  have 
entrance  granted  to  you  into  the  temple  of  God 
above,  where  you  fhall  join,  with  that  innumerable 
company  which  have  been  fele&ed  from  the 

reft  of  mankind,  in    all   ages,    in    finging 

HALLALUJAHS,  TO  HIM  THAT  SITTETH  ON  THE 
THRONE,  AND  TO  THE  LAMB,  FOR  EVER  AND 
EVER.  AMEN. 


I      N      I      S. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 
BERKELEY 

Return  to  desk  from  which  borrowed. 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


27AP'54RC 
ApR  15 1954  LU 


3LD 

AIOI/181962 

J** 


STACKS 


LD  21-100m-ll,'49(B7146sl6)476 


M180597 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


